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E. P. KINNE. COUPLING LOCK MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.3I, I917.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

Jamil-Jill an tiurrnn sanrns r arnnr ornion.

EDMUND P. KINNE, OF ALLIANCE, OI-IIO, ASSIQNOR TC AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIES,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A-CGBPCRATION 0F NEV] JERSEY.

COUPLING-LOCK MECHANISM.

7 LSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Decr 2, 1919.

Application filed August 31', 1917. Serial No. 189,057.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDMUND I. IiINNE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Alliance in the county of vStark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use t'ul improvements in Coupling-Lock Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coupler mechanism, and more particularly to coupler lock operating means. 1

One object of the invention is to facilitate, in a simple and novel manner, the operation of coupler looks.

Another object is to make the operation of a coupler lock convertible.

And a further object is to provide a coupier lock mechanism adapted to meet the various requirements for successful commercial operation.

Geueral v jects are now nnplished by providing in coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler lock. and means operating said look.

from below and from above the coupler.

The invention is illustrated on the accompaying sheet of drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a coupler shown in dotted and dash lines, showing the coupler lock operating means, for the most part, in full lines; 7

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a guide lever forming a part of the coupler lock operating mechanism, and

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the arrangement disclosed in Fig. 2.

The various novel features of the inven- 7 tion will be apparent'from the following description and drawings, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, it will be noted that I have provided a coupler having a head 10, to the forward portion of one side of which a coupler knuckle 11 is pivoted by means of a knuckle pin 12. This coupler is provided with a lock having the well-known function of locking the coupler knuckle in closed position whereby two or more cars may be operatively connected. The lock 13 is mounted for vertical movement in the head 10 and may be guided in any suitable manner. 7

Tl is particular invention has to do mainly with means for operating the coupler lock.

By means of my invention it is possible to speaking, these and other oboperate the coupler look from above and below the coupler proper. To operate the lock 13fr0111 above, I have provided a top lifter ltwhich passes downwardly through an opening 15 in the rear portion of the-coupler head 10, the lowerend of the top lifter haw ing a hook 16 which engages a handle or portion 17 to be gripped by the hook 16, said handle 17 preferably beingan integral part of the lock 1;) and being looped at the top of the lock. The top lifter'ldis provided with an eyeportion 18 which maybe operatively connected to any suitable operating means for raising the top. lifter l4 and thereby raising the lock 13 to permit or to cause the coupler knuckle 11 to be moved outwardly into an open position.

To operate the look from below the coupler, I have provided a bottom lifter 19 which extends upwardly through an opening 20 in the lower rear portion of the head 10. At its upper end, this bottom lifter has a laterally extending portion 21 and a downwardly extending portion leading from the portion 21 to form a hook. The upper or hook end of the bottom lifter 19 is received in a recessed portion 23 in the upper rear part of the coupler lock 13, the upper por tion of the extension 21 being engagcable with the lowermost portion of the hook 16 of the top lifter 1d. The recessed. portion 23 of the lock has a shoulderportion 24 which cooperates with the downwardly extending portion 22 of the bottom lifterv to prevent accidental withdrawal of the hook portion of the bottom lifter from the recess 23.

In assembling the parts, the lock is first inserted through the front of the coupler, then the bottom lifter 19 is inserted through the opening 20 in the head and its hooked portion is placed within the recessed portion 23 of the look, then the top lifter 1% is inserted through the head opening 15, the

hook 16 of the top lifter then being placed around the handle 17 causing the hook portion of the bottom lifter to occupy and be locked in the lower portion of the recess, in which position it is prevented from a'cci dental withdrawal from the look. It is apparent from this arrangement that the lock 13 may be raised from the top of the coupler by raising the top lifter 1-1- and also that the lock 13 may be raisedfrom the bottom of the coupler by raising the-bottom lifter 19 which presses upwardly against the hook 16 ot the top litter. It is seen, therefore, that the coupler lock may be operatcd from above or from below. In other words, the operating mechanism is convertible.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown the bottom lifter as provided with a guide lever 25, one portion or which is connected to the lower bifurcated. portion 27 of the bottom litter, and the upper portion or which guide lever pivotally connected toabracket 28 extending from the lower rear portion ofthe coupler head 10. By means of this guide lever, the bottom lifter 19 will be caused to travel in a given path when the same is operated to prevent any wedging which otherwise might occur.

It is apparent that there may be various modifications of the arrangement herein particularly shown and described, and it is my intention to cover all such modifications which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim: 1. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a lock having-a recessed portion and a handle, a lift member engaging said handle, and another lift member operatively connected to the first one and locked within said recessed portion.

2. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler lock having a recessed portion and a handle, a member connected with said handle for actuating said lock, and another member a portion of which is located in said recess for actuating said lock, said second member being locked in said recessed portion by the first mentioned member.

3. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler lock, and a plurality of actuating members connected to said lock, one of said members having a locking effect upon the other.

Signed at Alliance, State of Ohio, this 27th day of August, A. D. 1917.

EDMUND P. KINNE. 

